Producer

Lar de Paula

Country

Region of production

Appellations

Rioja DOCa

Founded

1964, by Fernando Meruelo

Climate

Rioja has a continental climate. The Alavesa sub-region is located 100km south of the Basque coast, and thus benefits from cooling Atlantic breezes. Warm temperatures are carried up from the Mediterranean Sea via the Ebro river.

Soil composition

Clay-Limestone

Vineyard

Approximately 150 hectares

Agriculture

Sustainable viticulture in practice; not certified

Production Volume

95 % red wine, 5 % white wine 110 000 cases

Varieties Grown

Ages of Vines

Average of 40-year-old vines

Behind the Wines

Fernando Meruelo

Fernando Meruelo, born on February 11th, 1953, is the estate’s viticulturalist. He works alongside his younger brother José Antonio, who heads up the winemaking team. Fernando’s eldest daughter, Patricia, also works for the estate. The new cellar built in 2001 was named after Fernando’s other daughter, Paula. This is truly a family affair!

A Winery at the Top of its Game

From the high quality of their vineyard sites, to their innovative practices, Lar de Paula has worked tirelessly to attain their status as a leading producer in the Rioja Alavesa region.

“We have been working with our grower partners for over 30 years now. They are all based in the villages of Kripan, Elvillar and Laguardia. This close, social network is a source of great pride for us.”- Fernando Meruelo, grower

Innovative Practices

The winery has pioneered several exciting techniques, notably as concerns barrel toasting. One such practice involves toasting barrels on a horizontal axis by resistance. This allows a more homogenous toast level for the barrel. The estate is also working towards reusing the CO2 produced during the fermentation process.

Continuous Quality Improvement

Since completing construction of their new winery in 2001, Lar de Paula has been working on unique parcel selections. Smaller tanks allow them to vinify each plot individually. This project has particular merit going forward, as a new classification system is being put in place in the Rioja Alavesa. It will allow estates to highlight the specific origin of grapes. Javier Ruiz de Galarreta, CEO of ARAEX Grands (of which Lar de Paula is a 25-year member), was one of the chief campaigners behind this new classification.

A Love of the Land

The pairing of a wine with its regional dishes is a sacred pleasure. In winter, “Patatas al chorizo”, is the perfect accompaniment to the Lar de Paula Reserva du Vigneron. In summer, the Lar de Paula Terrazas is the ideal wine to serve with lamb chops grilled on a bed of vine cuttings.